The world No 1 will retain her status at the summit of the game whatever the result against Sloane Stephens, who harbours ambition of a second Grand Slam success inside a year after her triumph at the US Open.

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Simona Halep will become the first Romanian women's winner of the French Open since Virginia Ruzici in 1978 if she defeats Sloane Stephens.

Halep lost the first set of her first-round encounter but has since only dropped a set to two-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber in the quarter-finals, while Stephens has looked equally impressive, losing only one set against Camila Giorgi on her path to the final.

Halep has won the previous four matches between the pair, along with their only two contests on clay, and Cowan believes the 26-year-old is ready to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday.

"She has come close and suffered heartache 12 months ago and the disappointment in Australia but she has always fought, battled and come back to have another go.”

Barry Cowan on Simona Halep

"This is her time - I have felt that the last couple of rounds," Cowan told Sky Sports.

"I think the [Angelique] Kerber match was key for her - to come back and win after losing the first set.

"I really hope she does [win] - she deserves it. She has come close and suffered heartache 12 months ago [defeat to Jelena Ostapenko in the final] and the disappointment in Australia but she has always fought, battled and come back to have another go."

Route to the final: Simona Halep

Opponent

Result

First Round

Alison Riske

2-6 6-1 6-1

Second Round

Taylor Townsend

6-3 6-1

Third Round

Andrea Petkovic

7-5 6-0

Fourth Round

Elise Mertens

6-2 6-1

Quarter-final

Angelique Kerber

6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-2

Semi-final

Garbine Muguruza

6-1 6-4

Final

Sloane Stephens

?

"I see her as a very strong favourite [against Stephens]."

Halep will hope it is fourth time lucky when she takes to Court Philippe Chatrier and Cowan believes there are comparisons to be made with her fortunes and those of Andy Murray, who suffered Grand Slam final defeat on four occasions before his first title.

"When you suffer the disappointment as Andy obviously did and Halep has it can in a strange way make you stronger."

Halep arrived in the French capital on the back of a positive clay court campaign, which included reaching the final of the Italian Open, and Cowan says her more positive game style is bearing fruition.

"I see Halep as a much better clay court player. I think her spirit is there and I see her as physically stronger," Cowan added.

"I think she is feeling more comfortable and her experiences have made her stronger.

Simona Halep has overcome some difficult opponents to reach the final

"She appears to have been very relaxed these past couple of weeks and sometimes something tells you inside that it is your time.

"To beat [Garbine] Muguruza in the way that she did was a huge win. She hasn't had it easy and been forced to win some big matches."